Cameron commits troops & ‘non-lethal aid’ to Ukraine

Prime Minister David Cameron has said Britain will not supply Ukraine with lethal weaponry in the fight against rebels in the East of the country, but UK troops will support Ukrainians with tactical intelligence, training and logistics.

Speaking to the Liaison
Select Committee, David Cameron said UK support would be given
“well away from the area of conflict,” adding that the
purpose of aid would be to improve Ukraine’s tactical
advantage.

He was further questioned on the capability of the UK to defend
its airspace after RAF jets were scrambled to intercept Russian
bombers last week for the second time in 2015.

He said the Russians were probably trying to make “some sort
of point,” but added that he didn’t know what that point
was.

Cameron said Britain should be confident in its defensive
strengths against Russia.

EU and US leaders accuse Russia of supporting the militias in
Donbass. The claims have been repeatedly denied by Russian
officials.

He added that should
Russian President Vladimir Putin risk destabilizing the Baltic
states with a cyber-attack, or similar, he would risk
confrontation with NATO.

“We are committed to their collective defense,” Cameron
said, but he did not give an indication of what a “red
line” might be, in terms of intervention.

He said the UK must continue to work with Russia on matters other
than Ukraine, despite the country not “behaving like a
strategic partner to Europe,” saying it was important to
join efforts to stop Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.

The Prime Minister, however, also advocated deeper sanctions
against Russia, adding that the Baltic States and Poland were
likely to agree.

Cameron’s actions go
against those of French and German leaders Hollande and Merkel
who are pushing for a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the
conflict. The leaders orchestrated the Minsk peace talks, where a
ceasefire was agreed, though there have been reports of continued
clashes since the deal was reached.

Last week the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously
to approve a Russian-drafted resolution to support the Minsk
agreements, reached by the leaders of France, Germany, Russia and
Ukraine.

The resolution was submitted to the UNSC by Russia on February
13, a day after the Minsk deal was agreed. It is aimed at
endorsing and executing the Minsk agreements. The document also
expresses concern over the continuing violence in eastern
Ukraine, and stresses the importance of resolving the conflict
peacefully.

“After the unprecedented diplomatic efforts last week,
Ukraine has a chance to turn a dramatic page in its
history,” said Russia’s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin, who
expressed “gratitude” towards the other parties for
endorsing the document.

It was revealed in early February the US is considering sending
arms to Ukraine.

Cameron is facing a general election on May 7. His tough stance
on international tensions between Russia and the West is informed
with this in mind.